Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

While Seoul is tempting due to everything civilized and modern being located there, I am wondering how rural based teachers deal with the problem of taking care of business that must be handled during a weekday in a larger city. Things like financial services and immigation matters are of concern such as the need to buy a U.S. money order, wire money home, or visit immigration for a multi-entry visa or a visa extension. How do you obtain necessary transportation to teach in several rural schools before buying a motor bike?

These foreseen concerns are very important to take into consideration and to be inquired about as you may be the only one present (only foreigner) who has these special needs as everyone else present may be Korean and not quite understand that you need a work day off on occassion to go to Seoul.

My question: Rural teachers, particularly public school teachers, how do you take care of these matters being that banks and immigation offices are only open during a weekday which is always a work day where you must be at work? Any transportation to work issues? If so, how are they remedied?

I have been following the post of ensuring you are placed in a rural area when teaching for a public school and am seriously interested in Gangwando for my 2nd year in Korea. The idea of being able to have access to clear spring fed trout fishing streams and fresh air in Gangwondo while being 1 hour from Seoul are just enticing. The idea of the local people being friendly and sincere when you show them a little respect just rocks.

[kiwigal]

My schools are based near a town, so I'm not too far from banks, postal services and there is an immigration office in my town.

However, I work at a public school following 9-5 weekday hours. Physically getting to the bank or post office in those hours is difficult. All my banking and post office needs are dealt with by skipping lunch on Mondays when I work at the elementary school in the town. It's quite good as it gives me a break to walk around and deal with those errands.

I can walk/bus/bike/get a ride with a co-teacher to work.

[andrew]

*****

[VanIslander]

Does 20,000 in town count as rural?

There is a Nongyup bank for sending money overseas (I've done it), post office for money orders, mailing. And your employer handles the immigration office, which is in a very small city/large town half an hour away (shorter distance than a subway ride!) by frequent bus. The bus system in this country is so good that when one lives in a rural setting/small town, you still can go to any city you need to, quickly, conveniently and cheaply.

There are two foreigners in the public schools here and they walk to work, one of them taking a 2500 won cab ride on a hot day to avoid the 10-minute walk to the middle school. Pedal bikes are ulta cheap and even scooters in a small town are cheaper than a night out in Seoul can sometimes be.

Great fishing here near the south coast too. (Namhae Island, Jinju, Hadong, even coastal Tongyeong and rural Gyeongsangnamdo is close to nature and to Busan)

[ttompatz]

[Smee]

I live in a town of 16,000. When I need to go to the bank I can skip out for an hour or two and take care of that at the Nonghyeop Bank in town. (Likewise, I can take care of anything I need to do at the post office during this time, too). However, I do have two KEB accounts. This could've been remedied, I guess, if I had opened a Nonghyeop account, although when I arrived in town things were pretty hectic and if I were to open a new account I wouldn't have been paid promptly (long story). So, if I want to send money home, I have to wait until there's a school holiday that doesn't fall on a national holiday . . . then I can go to Gwangju, the nearest city, and take care of that.

I haven't dealt with immigration yet, as my paperwork was handled during orientation. I don't have to worry about a multiple re-entry visa, as an American, so I can't answer questions about that. I will have to go to a pension office soon, as my contract expires in August. It's an important task, so I'll probably take a day off (things wind down in my public elementary school during June and July, so it won't be a problem).

I work at three rural elementary schools. I walk to two, and I take a 10 minute bus ride to the other. I get paid a small amount extra each time I make a trip to other schools to cover transportation costs, even if I walk. As I'm not about to drive, this suits me just fine. There are roughly 10 schools in my county that don't have a foreign teacher anymore, as the guy who used to teach there left in March. The county is wary of giving these schools to me, however, as it'd be impractical to try to get to all of these places, even with a car or scooter.

I don't know anything about EPIK, but I do know other recruiters hire for Gangwon-do, and they offer better salary and vacation. If you're in a rural part of the province I'm sure you'll be working at mutiple schools. However, your recruiter should tell you up front where you'll be. I interviewed for positions in Gangwon-do before ultimately deciding on Jeollanam-do, and the recruiter told me where I'd be if I sign.

Your right about the perks of living in the country. I've found the people very friendly, provided you, too, make the effort. And with a public school job you'll have more free time to explore other parts of the country (an opportunity I didn't have while at a hagwon). Plus, if you're in Gangwon-do you could easily make weekend trips to Seoul if you get cabin fever.

[Qinella]

Living in a rural area really pets the onus on you to learn Korean. I'd encourage anyone thinking about living outside of Seoul at all to go ahead and start studying so you won't find yourself doing charades for an unimpressed banker and blaming them for not knowing your language.

[VanIslander]

[dogshed]

My post office doesn't do money orders, or at least they won't for me.
Sometimes the school has a test or some other day where there are
no classes and I can make run to Wonju to KEB.

Do all post offices do money orders? Did my post office lie to me?

[tob55]

You may find living in the rural areas of Gangwon-do to be rather refreshing in some ways, while frustrating in others...As far as the quality of life, it it much slower and relaxed, except on weekends when all the people from the big cities decide they want to travel and see the country...Night life is quite different because there are really no "foreign" establishments for meeting your English speaking friends...

As far as the banking and immigration things...You will have a different immigration office to go to rather than the one you are familiar with now...For me in Cheongpyeong, I must go to Uijonbu to do my paperwork...Depending on where you want to be in Gangwon-do, your office could be in Chuncheon or some other location...The banks are friendly for the most part, but I always take my Korean wife with me or have her do the banking simply to ensure everything is communicated correctly...It really helped and we are doing fine...Have a Korean friend help you and it should be no problem...

What to do in the rural areas is another thing...If you are a person who likes nature and adventure, then the rural life is for you, because there are tons of things to do that are nature oriented...If you like movies and social activities then you will have to travel to some larger city to find something you want...Generally the rural areas have an enormous amount of festivals going on practically every weekend some where...

I have lived in the rural areas of South Korea for three of my four years here and I really wouldn't trade the relaxation for the smog and congestion of the big cities...That certainly had an affect on my decision to stay in Korea long term (indefinitely)

Hope this helps...

[LuckyNomad]

I live in a small Gangwon-do town. I only know of 2 other westerners who live in my town. That's a plus in my opinion because being a foreigner is much more of a novelty. People in the country are very friendly. I think that goes without saying virtually anywhere in the world. People in New Hampshire are going to be much friendlier than people in LA.

Many people on this board who live in the big cities seem to hate Korea. I think that judging all of Korea by what you experience in Itaewon, is like a Korean, who speaks no english, who works in a crummy job in New York City for 1 year, and has no American friends, judging the entire US population by what they experienced in New York City. They would come out with an inaccurate opinion of the US.

Small town life is very nice because you have a lot of Korean friends and aquaintances.
Never had any trouble at the local stores because they're mostly owned by the parents of the kids I teach.
Never had any problems with the NongHyeop in my town. I've sent millions of won back to the states from there.

[malysahhh]

Wow, I really really REALLLLLLLLLY want to move to a small town.
I am considering Jinju, Tongyeong, Suncheon (even though I've never been)... I think Tongyeong may be the best for me. Please, if you live in Tongyeong, and you know of a job opening in a public school this fall, let me know. I have been in Seoul for two years too long, and am ready to learn about real Korea. I think it will be so much more fun to practice Korean down south, and learn a bit of 사투리. ^^

Thanks

[Dome Vans]

[Hyeon Een]

[kiwiduncan]